Paterson man suspected of delivering cocaine is arrested with child in car

A Paterson man who allegedly delivered cocaine across North Jersey in a minivan was arrested in the company of his 3-year-old son and charged with multiple counts of drug distribution, Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik said in a news release Friday.

Luis A. Diego, 36, a native of Peru who is in the U.S. illegally, was arrested in Paterson Thursday following a two-week investigation that included surveillance of his residence on 27th Street, by Sheriff’s Department narcotics detectives, Berdnik said. The sheriff said Diego had his young son with him when he was arrested and was in the possession of two ounces of cocaine that was packaged for distribution and has a street value of $3,500.

The child was turned over to his mother, who came to the scene of the arrest at the intersection of Crooks Avenue and Route 20 after being called by detectives, Berdnik said. He did not provide details about the arrest but said a K9 unit detected the odor of illegal narcotics that led to a search of the accused man’s minivan.

Diego had been making drug deliveries throughout Bergen and Passaic counties, Berdnik said. The accused, who also goes by the name Manuel Antonio Calderon Vera, also had 22 oxycodone pills, a bag of marijuana, an illegal spring-loaded knife and $8,100 in cash in his possession when he was arrested, Berdnik said.

Diego was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana, all within 1,000 feet of a school, according to Berdnik. He was being held Friday at the Paterson municipal lockup and federal immigration authorities were notified of the arrest, Berdnik said.